Popular London cafe EL&N (pronounced "Elan") has announced it's expanding overseas, with branches set to open in the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar.
The chain, the name of which stands for "eat, live and nourish", first opened its doors at a venue in Mayfair in 2017 and quickly became famous for its Instagrammable interiors, dripping in pink and replete with neon signs nestled in flower walls.
It has often made headlines for being one of the city's most Instagrammed spots and for its quirky latte art, and venues across the English capital have since opened, with eight locations, including at Carnaby Street, Selfridges and St Pancras Station.
The UAE's outpost will open in the first or second week of June and will be located in Dubai's DIFC, in Gate Village 3, next to the equally Instagram-famous Saltbae Burger.
While it will be very similar to the London branches, we're told customers can expect a more artistic approach with modern twists and bright, bold colour pops.
The menu will encompass the cafe's classics, including the signature smashed avocado on sourdough bread, and pink chicken and waffles, alongside a collection of cakes and patisseries, plus coffee and mocktails.
"We have always dreamed of bringing our brand to Dubai as it's the perfect demographic for us," founder Alexandra Miller told The National. "We can't wait to show Dubai what we have in store."
In a video on YouTube announcing its expansion, Miller also says they will be taking EL&N to "all corners of the globe".
She adds: "We can't wait to create more picture-perfect memories with you, one city at a time."
The first of its international branches will open in Qatar on Sunday, in Galleria Mall at Msheireb. A sneak peek of the venue was shared exclusively with The National ahead of its opening, pictured below.
Elsewhere, the Kuwait venue will be opening in early May, at The Avenues Mall, in between the Cheesecake Factory and Victoria's Secret store.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
In Search of Mary Shelley: The Girl Who Wrote Frankenstein
By Fiona Sampson
Profile
Neil Thomson – THE BIO
Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.
Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
One in four Americans don't plan to retire
Nearly a quarter of Americans say they never plan to retire, according to a poll that suggests a disconnection between individuals' retirement plans and the realities of ageing in the workforce.
Experts say illness, injury, layoffs and caregiving responsibilities often force older workers to leave their jobs sooner than they'd like.
According to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research, 23 per cent of workers, including nearly two in 10 of those over 50, don't expect to stop working. Roughly another quarter of Americans say they will continue working beyond their 65th birthday.
According to government data, about one in five people 65 and older was working or actively looking for a job in June. The study surveyed 1,423 adults in February this year.
For many, money has a lot to do with the decision to keep working.
"The average retirement age that we see in the data has gone up a little bit, but it hasn't gone up that much," says Anqi Chen, assistant director of savings research at the Centre for Retirement Research at Boston College. "So people have to live in retirement much longer, and they may not have enough assets to support themselves in retirement."
When asked how financially comfortable they feel about retirement, 14 per cent of Americans under the age of 50 and 29 per cent over 50 say they feel extremely or very prepared, according to the poll. About another four in 10 older adults say they do feel somewhat prepared, while just about one-third feel unprepared.
"One of the things about thinking about never retiring is that you didn't save a whole lot of money," says Ronni Bennett, 78, who was pushed out of her job as a New York City-based website editor at 63.
She searched for work in the immediate aftermath of her layoff, a process she describes as akin to "banging my head against a wall." Finding Manhattan too expensive without a steady stream of income, she eventually moved to Portland, Maine. A few years later, she moved again, to Lake Oswego, Oregon. "Sometimes I fantasise that if I win the lottery, I'd go back to New York," says Ms Bennett.
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
